Remarks by the President at Beginning of Meeting with Congressional Education Leaders
The Cabinet Room
Read the President's Plan for Education Reform:
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5:07 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. It's an honor to
be here
with the chairman and ranking member of the committee, members of the
Education Committee in the House of Representatives.

We're going to spend a lot of time talking about education, until a
bill works its way through the House and the Senate. It's a
priority of
mine, but the good news is, it's also a priority of the members here
around
the table. And I am actually confident that we can forge an
education bill
that will achieve a lot of objectives: high standards, local
control of
schools. But the most important objective of all is that every
child in
America gets educated. It is a national priority and it's a goal
that I'm
actually confident that this great nation can achieve.

So it's an honor to welcome members of the Congress here to have a
frank discussion. I'll be glad to answer a few questions.

Q Is there a comment at all on Mr. Greenspan's comment
this
morning, on the need for tax cuts and the effect it might have on the
economy?

THE PRESIDENT: I was pleased to hear Mr. Greenspan's words.
I felt
they were measured and just right. He recognizes that we need
good
monetary policy and sound fiscal policy to make sure that the economy
grows. So I was pleased.

Q He also seemed to indicate that having the tax cut in
place was
one of the issues -- or one of the main criteria in having a tax cut
that
would benefit the economy. Do you read that as support for a
retroactive
tax cut or an accelerated measure?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't think Alan Greenspan was supporting any
particular plan. I know he wasn't going to the Hill to say, well,
President Bush has got the right plan. I felt like he was
speaking about
policy, in general. His job is to report to the Congress in an
objective
way, and that's exactly how I read it.

I've got my view of how to enact tax relief. I suspect others in
the
Congress will have their view. But what Alan Greenspan was saying
to the
nation is that in order to make sure our economy grows, we've got to
have
good monetary policy and sound fiscal policy, a component of which is
wise
spending, as well as tax relief.

CONGRESSMAN BOEHNER: Mr. President, on behalf of my colleagues --
if
I could just say something. On behalf of my colleagues on both
sides of
the aisle, I want to thank you for inviting us here. All week
you've spent
a great deal of time talking about your proposal; but, more
importantly,
meeting with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, trying
to
build consensus for this very serious proposal.
And on behalf of all of us, I just want to say, thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Q Mr. President, you're meeting tonight with the
Archbishop, what
do you hope to accomplish?

THE PRESIDENT: I hope to have a good meal. (Laughter.)
I will tell
you something about the Cardinal-to-be and the other leaders I'll be
meeting with. These are men of great faith, huge compassion for
the poor
and the oppressed. I can't wait to talk to them about education
reform,
because education to the Cardinal-to-be is a paramount concern.
He knows
what we know: an educated child is one much more likely to
realize the
greatness of America. And I'm going to discuss that; and I'm
there to
listen, as well. It's a huge honor to go there, and I'm looking
forward to
it.

Q Mr. President, how do you expect to address concerns
about
separation of church and state in dealing with faith-based initiatives,
both for education and other services?

THE PRESIDENT: I'll have a lot to say about that next week.
But I
will just tell you this, that a compassionate society is one which
recognizes the great power of faith, not a particular religion, for the
great power faith can play in the lives of everyday citizens; and that
we
in government must not fear faith-based programs. We must welcome
faith-based programs.

This issue was debated -- hotly debated in the Congress in previous
sessions, all based upon what's called charitable choice, which is a
constitutional provision which recognizes government will never fund
religion. But government should not fear funding programs that
can change
people's lives; nor should government fear funding -- providing funding
for
an individual and allow that individual to choose a faith-based
program, so
long as there is a secular alternative available.